Average Days to First Hearing – Year over Year Comparison (Jul 1- Sept 30 - Q2)
This table compares average days to first hearing for key landlord applications, measured against Ontario’s 30 business day provincial performance standard.
The data highlights how long landlords typically wait after filing before their case is first heard, and how these timelines have changed year over year.
While eviction-related timelines improved in 2025, they remain well above the provincial standard. Even in the fastest category shown, most cases still exceed 30 business days.
More importantly, not all application types are trending in the same direction. L5 applications now take significantly longer year over year, reinforcing that post tenancy disputes are among the slowest matters at the LTB.
These averages reflect only the time to first hearing, not final resolution.
# LTB L1 & L2 Applications — Year-over-Year Comparison (Jul 1- Sept 30 - Q2)
Applications continue to rise, increasing by over 5% year over year. This confirms that non-payment of rent remains the dominant and growing issue facing Ontario landlords. More than 12,000 L1 cases in a single quarter highlights how common serious payment breakdowns have become.
L2 applications declined compared to last year, but context matters. With 3,378 L2 filings in just one quarter, disputes related to tenant conduct, unit damage, and lease violations remain exceptionally high. Even with fewer cases, L2 disputes tend to be more complex, costly, and disruptive.
The takeaway is clear:
The LTB continues to process thousands of high-risk landlord-tenant disputes every quarter, many of which could be prevented with better upfront tenant selection. In an environment where resolving issues can take months, choosing the right tenant isn’t optional — it’s one of the most important risk-management decisions a landlord can make.
Using information, not enforcement, to manage risk
RateTheCondo approaches tenant selection from an information perspective. The platform provides a tenant screening guide to help landlord in doing their own selection. However for landlords who want deeper support, working with a RateTheCondo realtor adds professional level of expertise in finding a qualified tenant.
Source: Open Data Tribunals Ontario
